"Second Brother!" Liu Bei stopped Zhang Fei, "Lord Zhang, please speak."
"What happens today has nothing to do with others. Let them leave! I will fight you here alone!"
As soon as he said this, Zhang Fei couldn't help but feel ashamed. Their ambush here today was not an honorable act, yet Zhang Chen was completely fearless, his thoughts not on how to escape, but on the safety of others.
Zhang Fei immediately turned his horse back to the formation and said to Liu Bei, "Boss, the letter only told us to ambush Zhang Chen. It has nothing to do with others, so why don't we let them go?"
Liu Bei pondered for a moment, thinking that this place was still far from Ji Province. Even if he let them leave, they wouldn't be able to bring reinforcements quickly.
So, Liu Bei said, "Alright, I can let them go."
Saying that, Liu Bei waved his hand, signaling the troops to clear a path.
"Thank you, Lord Liu," Zhang Chen said, turning his horse and coming before the carriage.
Lifting the carriage curtain, the incomparably beautiful woman inside was filled with worry and fear, tears streaming down her face as she quietly sobbed.
"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Zhang Chen said, "If you keep crying, you won't be beautiful anymore."
"Lord..." Diao Chan wiped her tears, "Those bad people, why do they want to kill you?"
Zhang Chen smiled and said to Diao Chan, "It's alright, Chan'er. I'll have the guards take you away first and return to Ye City."
"No!" Diao Chan shook her head forcefully, "Lord, Chan'er doesn't want to leave you..."
"Be good," Zhang Chen said softly, "Since I promised you a peaceful life, I won't break my word. Your presence here will only distract me. Be good, I promise you, I will be fine."
After Zhang Chen finished speaking, without waiting for Diao Chan to say anything more, he turned and lowered the curtain, saying to the guard captain beside him, "You must escort the young lady back to Ye City safely. There must be no mistakes."
The guard captain said with hesitation, "But Lord, you..."
"Don't worry, I have my ways to escape," Zhang Chen said, "Leave quickly!"
The guard captain was helpless and could only cup his hands, saying, "Lord, take care."
Afterward, one hundred guards protected the carriage and walked along the path cleared by the cavalry until they were no longer visible.
Zhang Chen watched the retreating backs of the guards, tightly gripping the Xuan Tie Si Leng Qiang (Black Iron Four Edged Spear) in his hand. He flipped onto his horse and said to Liu Bei and the other two, "Come! If you want my life, then come!"
Zhang Chen was not acting out of momentary bravery; he knew that with Liu Bei and his two brothers here, it would be extremely difficult for him to escape. At this moment, only by fighting them desperately could he buy more time for Diao Chan and the others to flee.
From the previous fight, he had seen that although Liu Bei and the two others were ambushing him here, they did not intend to rely on superior numbers.
If it was just a one-on-one fight, he could still hold on for a while.
He already had a plan in mind.
Later, when the battle reached a stalemate, he would seize the opportunity to escape back the way he came, leading Liu Bei and the others in the opposite direction.
His Jueying (Shadowless) horse was fast, and escaping then would not be difficult.
At present, Zhang Chen held his spear horizontally, ready on his horse, watching everyone.
Zhang Fei was about to charge out, but Guan Yu, who was beside him, stroked his beard and said in a deep voice, "Second Brother, you have already fought a round just now. This time, let me face him."
As soon as he finished speaking, Guan Yu had already spurred his horse forward.
"Kid, take this!" Guan Yu roared, charging forward to meet him. He swung the Green Dragon Crescent Blade in his hand with all his might, as if it carried the force of thunder.
Zhang Chen did not dare to be careless in the slightest. He raised his Xuan Tie Si Leng Qiang (Black Iron Four Edged Spear) to parry head-on. The blade struck the spear shaft, emitting a heavy clang.
Zhang Chen actually blocked Guan Yu's strike!
He didn't expect to have the fortune of crossing swords with Lord Guan today. Well, this could be considered a life not lived in vain!
Zhang Chen thought to himself.
In the blink of an eye, they exchanged more than ten blows.
Whether it was fighting Zhang Fei just now or fighting Guan Yu now, Zhang Chen clearly felt one thing: the improvement in effectiveness brought about by reaching the "peerless" realm of martial arts was completely different.
When Zhang Chen previously possessed Proficient Spear Technique and fought against Guan Hai, who possessed Pinnacle Swordsmanship, although he was also defeated, the feeling was vastly different from today.
Today, Zhang Chen seemed to feel a trace of oppressive aura hidden within the opponent's blade technique, which seemed to make him feel a hint of fear.
Moreover, Guan Yu's blade technique was incredibly exquisite. Zhang Chen was nearly found out several times.
Could this be Guan Yu's exclusive blade technique - the Spring Autumn Blade Technique?
It is said that Guan Yu enjoyed reading the Spring and Autumn Annals, and this blade technique was enlightened from it.
"Good, you are worthy of being my opponent!" Guan Yu praised, and then struck down with another blow.
Zhang Chen parried with his spear, lifted it forcefully, and forcibly knocked Guan Yu's blade away.
Immediately, Zhang Chen turned his horse's head and rode back south.
Liu Bei was greatly alarmed by this sight. Things had come to this point today; how could he let him escape? So he immediately ordered, "All troops, heed my command! Pursue him!"
With a single command, the troops immediately surged forward like arrows released from a bow, chasing after him with all their might.
Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei also pursued him with all their might.
Zhang Chen shouted "Giddy up!", and the Jueying (Shadowless) horse instantly shot out like a black lightning bolt, leaving Liu Bei and the two others, as well as the troops, far behind.
Zhang Chen felt extremely fortunate. Fortunately, Guan Yu had not yet acquired the Red Hare horse at this time; otherwise, he feared he would have had no chance of escaping today!
"Second Brother, Third Brother, Zhang Chen's horse is fast. You two take the shortcuts and surround him from both sides. We absolutely cannot let him escape today!"
"Don't worry, Boss!"
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei responded, each leading over a hundred cavalry along the small paths on the left and right sides, while Liu Bei led the remaining troops to pursue Zhang Chen along the main road.
In his desperation, Zhang Chen couldn't distinguish distances. He could only gallop along the main road, wanting only to shake off the pursuit of the three as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, the Jueying (Shadowless) horse had excellent stamina. Before long, Liu Bei was already starting to lose sight of Zhang Chen's back.
Just as Zhang Chen thought he was about to escape the pursuit of Liu Bei and the others, he suddenly heard a thunderous roar.
"Hey! Little thief, where are you running? Come back and fight your Grandpa Zhang Fei for another three hundred rounds!"
Zhang Chen was startled. He saw Zhang Fei leading hundreds of cavalry charging out from a small path on the left side of the road. He thrust his eighteen-foot serpent spear towards Zhang Chen with a sudden lunge.
Zhang Chen was greatly alarmed and quickly raised his spear to meet the attack.
Before they had exchanged many blows, the sound of hooves rose from the other side, and Guan Yu led his troops charging out from the other flank.
Zhang Chen parried the serpent spear and then blocked the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, saying, "General Guan, you have always distinguished right from wrong. Why are you pressing me so hard today?"
"I am ashamed of today's matter, but Boss has given the order, and I must obey!" Saying that, Guan Yu struck down with another blow.
At the same time, Zhang Fei also galloped up. The two of them combined their strength to fight Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen could only parry at this point, completely unable to counterattack. He desperately used the Xuan Tie Si Leng Qiang (Black Iron Four Edged Spear) in his hand to block from side to side, barely holding on.
At this moment, Zhang Chen couldn't help but feel his heart turn to ashes. With the two fierce generals, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, attacking him together, even if he had three heads and six arms today, he feared it would be difficult to change this certain death situation!
At this moment, Liu Bei also arrived with his men. Seeing that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had already gained the upper hand, he spurred his horse forward, intending to join the battle as well.
It's over! Zhang Chen's heart completely chilled.
Today, I, Zhang Zifan, will die here!
I haven't yet ascended to the peak of power, haven't yet conquered the land with my cavalry, haven't yet married my Zhen Jiang, haven't yet enjoyed the life of being drunk on a beauty's lap and holding the reins of power upon waking!
Oh, vast heavens, why are you so unfair to me!